Restoring the River

Baucus Throws Support Behind Mike Horse Dam Removal

By Courtney Lowery, 7-20-06

Sen. Max Baucus today threw his weight behind the movement to remove the Mike Horse Dam in the upper Blackfoot River.

As Perry Backus reported in the Missoulian earlier this week, Regional Forester Gail Kimbell is looking at alternatives that would remove only portions of the toxic refuse-filled dam. A recent report from the Forest Service shows total dam removal would cost $22.6 million. The Clark Fork Coalition and Trout Unlimited have both been working for removal of the dam.

Today, Baucus sent a letter to Kimbell asking for full removal and a 30-day extention of the public comment period on the proposed alternatives in the cleanup. His letter follows:

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Ms. Abigail R. Kimbell
Regional Forester
USDA Forest Service, Region 1
PO Box 7669
Missoula, Montana 59807-7669

Dear Gail:

Norman Maclean immortalized the Blackfoot River in his book, A River Runs Through It. Countless Montanans count on the Blackfoot for irrigation water and recreation. We hunt on its shores. We fish its deep pools. We take our kids floating down its rapids. It’s a part of our recreational heritage as Montanans. Unfortunately, the Mike Horse Dam on the Blackfoot River threatens this gem of the Treasure State. It is important that the Forest Service work with the local community to get the cleanup right the first time. I am writing today to support extending the public comment period on this matter by thirty days.

Full removal of Mike Horse Dam seems to be the best option to protect the Upper Blackfoot River. The dam already failed once, over thirty years ago, and the Blackfoot River is too important to Montanans to risk again on half-measures. The dam itself is constructed of toxic mine wastes and the amount of tailings backed up behind the dam structure only increase the urgency of the cleanup. While I support removing the dam entirely, I would also like to hear more about the Forest Service’s other options to restore and protect the health of this great river. I urge the Forest Service to reach out to the local community to assure them that they can get the job done right the first time.

Because so many Montanans depend on a clean and safe Blackfoot River, it is important to keep the public comment period on all proceedings involving the Mike Horse Dam open for an extra thirty days. It is haying season for local farmers and ranchers and vacation time for area families. The people who live and work along this river, and those who value it for its beauty and recreational opportunities, all need to have an opportunity to be heard.

Please contact me if I can be of any additional assistance in this matter. I am confident that we can work together to protect this Montana treasure.

With best personal regards, I am

Sincerely,

Max Baucus

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